delicate

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Related terms 1.3.2 Translations 1.4 Noun 1.5 External links 2 Italian 2.1 Adjective 2.2 Anagrams 3 Romanian 3.1 Adjective

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Middle English delicat < Latin delicatus (“‘giving pleasure, delightful, soft, luxurious, delicate, in ML. also fine, slender’”) < delicia, usually in plural deliciae (“‘pleasure, delight, luxury’”) < delicere (“‘to allure’”) < de (“‘away’”) + lacere (“‘to allure, entice’”).

[edit] Pronunciation

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Adjective

delicate (comparative more delicate, superlative most delicate)

1. Easily damaged or requiring careful handling.

   Those clothes are delicate

   The negotiations were very delicate

2. Characterized by a fine structure or thin lines.

   Her face was delicate

   The spider wove a delicate web

   There was a delicate pattern of frost on the window

3. Intended for use with fragile items.

   Set the washing machine to the delicate cycle

4. Of weak health, easily sick.
5. (informal) Unwell, especially because of having drunk too much alcohol.

   Please don't speak so loudly - I'm feeling a bit delicate this morning

[edit] Related terms

• delicacy
• delicately
• delicatessen
• delicious
• delight

[edit] Translations

[edit] Noun

delicate (countable and uncountable; plural delicates)

1. (countable) A delicate item of clothing

   Don't put that in with your jeans, it's a delicate!

2. (uncountable) Specifically underwear or lingerie.

[edit] External links

• delicate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• delicate in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

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[edit] Italian

[edit] Adjective

delicate f.

1. Feminine plural form of delicato.

[edit] Anagrams

• Anagrams of acdeeilt
• dateceli

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[edit] Romanian

[edit] Adjective

delicate

1. feminine plural nominative form of delicat.
2. feminine plural accusative form of delicat.
3. neuter plural nominative form of delicat.
4. neuter plural accusative form of delicat.